The Poison [aw]

[I L Y I C H]

You were so young, I guess I'm old
Open your eyes and I'll keep mine closed

How odd it was, to see that near anorexic frame amble through the dead grace. How odd for me to be able to piece together the series of shadows on his pelt. How different it was to feel in one giant rush a rage of emotion that had shattered free of its box. Vengrad. My dear precious Vengrad. Playing sister to Alphonse and Noelle had been some form of joy, but as horrid as it sounded I could never love them as I loved Vengrad. The man who had lived through hell at my side. Our companionship and blood relation lead to far greater connections then did that of Al and Noelle. Do not take it wrong way. I still loved my adopted siblings, and would die for them. But Vengrad... my brother. Precious brother of whom I knew so little and cared so much.

The male leopard's frame was a bit larger then mine, I noted as he hurried forward having just apparently seen me. Noting with some stitch of surprise my own paws were gliding forward to meet him. This prickling feeling in my chest... what was it? Blood flow collecting under the rapid beat of my heart most likely, but it was exciting. It was exciting. My heart beet still faster, a small smile jumping and twitching on my uncomfortable lips. Vengrad's own starved face held a far truer smile then the watery falsity I was accustom to remembering on his maw. How odd it was to feel such great joy, in almost euphoric proportions. Then again that was generally the only way I felt joy. In obnoxiously large quantities. Damn serotonin.

Half hopping to avoid the deeper roots, I came to stand before my brother, eyes rapidly assessing his frame. His tawny pelt was hanging from bones, and hunger was obvious in him. Eyes narrowing with slight concern I inched forward to touch my snout to his own. Vengrad's bright blue eyes narrowed, a heavy rough sound pressing out of his jaws. A sort of purr. No there was no sort of in it, he was purring at me. Unable to replicate the sound for him I gave into the urge to once more begin cleaning his ears. Pulling back with a short laugh the man, who was rather robust even in his hunger, gave me a warm grin before settling back on his haunches.

One would think our reunion would be stronger, faster, more loving. But such words could not connect to our relationship, or this new continuation of it. Vengrad and I had survived together, depended on one another. Our lives would have been lost if not for our counterpart. Now we fell easily back into our normal rounds, a thing that had not existed in over three years. I took note as he spoke up that his English was worse then mine. I would have to help him wit that. "Is good find you, Ilyich! ah.." he switched over to German with a heavy tongue, spotted face screwed up with confusion. "was hast du angestellt?"

Head tipping at the question, I shrugged and sat down as he had. "Been with a cat pride. Odd things happen in America, Brother." The blank stare directed at my face set the table straight. Vengrad wasn't just worse at English he inevitably failed at it. I repeated myself in our mother's tongue. "Sie waren bereits mit einer Katze Stolz. Seltsame Dinge in Amerika, Bruder passieren" The man nodded that time, bright eyes landing on my own pumpkin orange orbs with gusto in their depths. A new thought occurred to me as he did that. "Ihre auf ihrem Gebiet tatsächlich" Not that it made any difference, and the relaxed air to my expression gave Vengrad confidence and he merely shrugged his dark tawny shoulders.

"Not mean... Es tut mir leid" I shrugged my own black dotted shoulders in response. It didn't really matter, so long as I was the only one that had seen Vengrad trotting along. Alphonse would have been furious... Clicking my tongue against thick canines, I simply stared back at my brother, still in a state of disbelief. We had last seen one another long ago in a cage in a far colder country then this acrid place. Behind bars, watching with a deep fear as our safety lines moved in opposite directions. But then Vengrad had always been an annoying little optimist, and he had most likely consoled himself. For me, having my brother back was like earning back a piece of my soul. I had gotten more then my brother back. When he touched me I got a bit of emotion back. I got a pack of cigarettes to alleviate my addiction.

Vengrad would make me better again.


ooc://
song lyrics from 'the poison' by 'all time low'

translations:
what have you been up to
been with cat pride. odd things happen in america brother
your on their territory actually
I'm sorry

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

What an interesting little thing.

I had been following a leopard, stalking him, for about a mile now. Anger had surged at his trespassing, my adult-oriented dominance screaming I callan attack against the foe. But then that childlike curiousity kicked in and forced me to remain silent and just to simply watch. Being a teenager called a piece of both worlds to brawl and the child had won this time.

I was so glad it had.

Listening to the exchange, I only caught and digested bits and pieces. This was a sibling of Ilyich's, her brother. He spoke little English. Ilyich told him he had trespassed. That was all I could understand of their english and german hybrid. Living with a germanic cat like Ilyich, one couldn't help but learn some of her tongue. I knew a few demands in Deutsch and a couple phrases and statements. I was eager to meet this brother of hers, but the language barrier would prove a difficult one to scale.

I knew some barely any german.

"Hallo, Freund." I felt pleased to have remembered that a male friend does not have the 'in'at the end of it. What I found frustrating, however, was that I either labeled this leopard 'friend' or 'cat', because I knew no other terms that would fit. This stranger was not my friend, but my senses told me that he could be, thus leading to me accepting that point.

As I came to stand close to the sibling pair, I noted that I stood almost equal to their height, though a whisker shorter. My bulk was grander, due to my lion and tiger heritage. It was natural for my build to be wider. I felt confident that I could fight one of these leopards, but I was honest enough to admit I could not yet take two. Well, other than the war against Akando and Ende, I had never fought so I may not even have the experience to defeat one.

Why would I think that way? Ilyich has been a sister to me and this brother of hers could be welcome in Zonta if he so pleased. "Mein Name ist Alphonse, des Fuhrur of Zonta Pride. Da Sie der Bruder of Ilyich sind, können wir einen Platz für Sie machen, wenn Sie möchten." I understood my grammar was off, and I knew I threw in a few english words, but I felt confident that this man would realize my intentions for the words.

I could just let Ilyich translate for me, but I wouldn't seem very welcoming then, now would I? I wouldn't be able to fool him into believing that I was a happy man who loved the world.

He would soon learn what an arrogant ass I normally was.

Translation:
Hello friend.
My name is Alphonse; the leader of Zonta Pride. Since you are Ilyich's brother, we can make a space for you, if you would like.

[I L Y I C H]

My brother looked up at the approaching liger with little worry. Vengrad had always had a hard time believing in fear, or worry for that matter. As I stood with a poor attempt at welcome, he smiled blithely with open kindness. Slightly disturbed, and turning to bow to my alpha I could not accept the male's inability to perceive the worse emotions. It was as if each had taken the other half of the other. Having noticed my motions, Vengrad was fast to copy me though weak amusement shone in those sapphire eyes of his. I understood his unspoken questions. Such a tiny Fuhrer this was.

Brother sat up and back in the same motion, his heavy haunches seating easily and his tail wrapping across large paws. "Is nice to find German worder... argh. Speaker. That word ja?" The spotted face turned to stare at me, mouth contorted into a slightly awkward angel. A small immature smile pulled up on my lips. A smile that had not been even close to the surface in years. Had I ever smiled in Al's presence before? Ginger eyes turned back to the tawny boy, I returned to my normal disinterested expression. Vengrad mimicked me, though he seemed a bit warmer then my stiff cold frame would allow.

I could feel it in the roll of arrogant shoulders. Vengrad was feeling superior over my adoptive brother, but he was grateful as well. The head tilt proffered some weak interest in Alphonse himself but that was quickly flung away at the prospect of learning more of our pride. Glancing towards me Vengrad spoke very quickly obviously expecting me to speak for him. His wording had changed slightly, accent altering into a more Munich like form then the Berlin system I had been in the process of ingraining in Al's thick skull. Ears cocked I turned the words on end into that funny English vowels that didn't make any sense to poor Vengrad.

"He wishes to ask you of our numbers. I see fit that you should answer, alpha. He also wanted to know about any rivalry's." Vengrad motioned to me, as if I had forgotten to add something, and with a huff I realized I had. "Vengrad also means no worries by these questions. He comes no matter the answers." Honestly as stupid as the man acted at times, and he had his moments in those past years, he was as clever as a hawk. And as vicious as one too. Slightly interested to see if Al would notice my blood brother's dancing, I tipped my skull forward. Vengrad himself shuffled forward to smile at Al, sapphire eyes bright and curious.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

My interest was reted soley in the man, but a small movement brought the gaze carrying over to Ilyich. A smile. It seemed strangely misplaced among the scar tissued skull. It occured to me then that I had never seen the woman shed a joyous grin. Not once.

A small prick of comfort inched into my heart.

As arrogant as I was; as cold as I could be, I loved my family. Yes, family. Never would a word of such kinds escape past my lips, but the thoughts lay dormant, only woken during strange moments such as this. Her smile made mine sprout forward, a tight angle forming a sideways grin on my oversized jaws. Her joy lead me to know that sometimes there could actually be a moment of sunlight.

Unable to push back the small smile, I allowed it to lay tightly in place, though only mildly. Returning my interested stare to theodd dancing brother, I listened to Iylich translate his thoughts. I did not look to the woman as I answered rigidly, obviously putting forward some effort in translation. I wasn't doing so for the reason originally set in place.

This man made Ilyich happy. Ilyich's smile made Noelle happy. Their joy would make Serenity content. The pride could do great things when their hearts were light.

If only I could follow a similar suit.

"Vier. Wir ist..." I paused, looking to Ilyich in defeat. I could not even begin to remember the words for small or strong. "Let your brother be aware that thought we are currently a small gathering of cats, we have much heart and strength." I considered waiting for her to translate, but then pushed on to say what more I could answer. Looking back to Vengrad, "Uh, rivals...zwei? Two. Prides." A cold scowl devour any kindness that had been present. "Das weiss katzen. Tiger. Symphony Bava'." My lip pulled up as my structure tensed. "Ich nicht slaufen until er ist tot."

The bags under my eyes showed how serious I would take those words.

Loose translations:
Four. We are...
Two.
The white cat.
I won't sleep until he is dead.